Tolerating One Another’s Weaknesses
If I had as many children as God, I wouldn’t last a day after seeing how they treat each other. Correction: I wouldn’t last five minutes. Make that five seconds.
Thankfully, God is infinitely long-suffering and immeasurably powerful. Our patient and powerful heavenly Father never grows weary of watching over us.
I, on the other hand, am human. I come up short in patience. And the only kind of supernatural power I’ve ever displayed was being able to keep my four young children’s names straight as I called out one for mistreating his or her sibling.
I yearned for my children to learn what it means to bear (tolerate, endure) one another’s shortcomings rather than mercilessly mocking each other and constantly tattling on one another. I prayed that one day they’d work harder at helping each other succeed than at spotlighting each other’s weaknesses.
In a similar way, let’s consider the way we fail to tolerate the weaknesses of our brothers and sisters in Christ—and how we fall short on covering (protecting) one another when we err.
Each time we expose or pick on people’s flaws, we perpetuate their shame and embarrassment. We fuel their growing disappointment with themselves. God’s encompassing love for all His children not only sees the pain we cause, He also sees the destruction that happens in our own hearts when we behave in this way.
And if it pulls at our hearts when one of our children mistreats their sibling—whom we also love, imagine how much it grieves our heavenly Father when we undermine one another.
During this season of love, let’s focus on the first four words of 1 Corinthians 13:7 (ESV): “Love bears all things.”
Let’s decide to cover one another with love. Imagine what our world would look like if we finally accepted that the people in our lives will never be perfect and choose to tolerate their imperfections. And pray for them to have the grace to bear with ours as well.
Sometimes the best way to love each other (besides praying for one another) is to remember we’re all works in progress. Then perhaps we can move toward bearing with each other for more than five seconds at a time.
What about you?
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this post. (Others might also benefit from your comment.)
- How much does it grieve you when you see your child (whom you love) pick on his brother or sister (whom you also love)?
- Can you imagine how deeply it grieves our heavenly Father when He sees His children mistreating each other?
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Thank you Sheryl, your post are always so timely and written at the right time. I look forward to seeing you in my in-box. Have a wonderful, blessed day and keep serving God and Christ in your daily life.
Thank you SO much, Dave. It’s so nice to see you again. Thank you for letting me know that God is using my devotions for His purposes.
You have a wonderful, blessed day as well, Dave.
Shery, thank you for your insightful blog message focusing on tolerating others. As I pause to reflect on your words: “Imagine what our world would look like if we finally accepted that the people in our lives will never be perfect and choose to tolerate their imperfections”, I am embarrassed to admit that I sometimes pass judgment on and criticize others when I see them doing something I would not do (as if I am perfect). Although I try to keep those kinds of thoughts internal and unspoken, how this must grieve my loving Father. It is the sin I ask forgiveness for on a regular basis. Thank you for this eloquent reminder about bearing with one another in love. May my heart learn the importance of loving others wholeheartedly by knowing that God loves them and that I need to see everyone through His eyes of unconditional love. Amen! [I am both blessed and honored to share your message to my Timeline.]
I appreciate your comment on several levels, Joyce – including your willingness to be so transparent. Truth be told, I also often sin in the same way. May we pray for each other!
And thank you for sharing my devotion on your Facebook page!
This is so true! If only we would truly love one another! Thank you for this reminder to practice love. Love is not a feeling; but an action. 1 Corinthians 13 teaches us how to love.
Indeed. Have you read 1 Corinthians 13 in the Amplified Bible, Classic edition? Be ready to be convicted!
Thank you for reading my devotion, Barbara!
And, as always, thank you for sharing my devotion on your Facebook page, Barbara!!
And if it pulls at our hearts when one of our children mistreats their sibling—whom we also love, imagine how much it grieves our heavenly Father when we undermine one another. This is powerful!
Thank you, Rhonda. It’s quite a sobering thought, isn’t it?!